Europe link of the Trans-Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline (TANAP) was opened

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan makes a speech during the opening ceremony of the TANAP-Europe connection in Ipsala district of Edirne, Turkey on November 30, 2019.

The Turkish and Azeri presidents on Saturday inaugurated the Europe link of the strategic Trans-Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline (TANAP).

Erdogan stressed that the project dubbed as the project as the Silk Road of energy is a symbol of deep-rooted friendship between Turkey and Azerbaijan.“A dream of supplying 16 billion cubic meters of Azeri natural gas to Turkey and Europe has come true,” Erdoğan added.

He went on to say that TANAP is the most important part of the 3,500-kilometers of energy corridor which extends from Azerbaijan to Europe. The pipeline will begin carrying gas to the European section of the Southern Gas Corridor, an ambitious initiative of the European Commission for a natural gas supply route from Caspian and Middle Eastern regions to Europe. It will pass through the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) — the European leg of the corridor.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said that the TANAP project will pave the way for boosting ties between nations. “TANAP is an international cooperation project that essentially unites seven countries on the Southern Gas Corridor,” Aliyev added.

Turkey’s Energy and Natural Resources Minister Fatih Dönmez said that “TANAP is an energy project that reaches beyond the mountains, seas and straits, breaking records, to the inner parts of Europe.” Dönmez said.

The pipeline passes through 20 provinces and 67 districts of Turkey and comprises the largest section of the 3,500 kilometers of the Southern Gas Corridor. With an investment of around $8 billion, TANAP will deliver 6 billion cubic meters of Azerbaijani gas to Turkey and 10 billion to Europe per year.

“In the first stage, 16 billion cubic meters and later 31 billion cubic meters of natural gas will be transported through the pipeline. The wealth coming from the depths of the Caspian will touch the lives of millions in all corners of Anatolia and Europe,” he said. Turkey follows a win-win policy in the energy projects and focuses on equal sharing, added Dönmez.

TANAP links with the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) — the European leg of the Southern Gas Corridor — which will become commercially operational in 2020.